Mercury switch



Nov. 5, 1940. N. F. GOTTSCHALK- MERCURY SWITCH Filed Feb. 20, 1940 INVENTOR. karma/n f''ozlaafia/li BY $061152 ms fflttorney-s,

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch of the kind mentioned which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and positive in operation. I

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts associated therewith or as will be more fully hereinafter set forth as shown by the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which, by the way of example, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred form of the switch.

Figure 2 is a central section through a modified form of switc I The switch shown in the figures comprises a glass tube l0, having sealed to it suitably formed ends, ll-l I, made preferably of metal.

The metal ends may be surrounded or covered by a suitable insulating material I 2, for example,

a casing formed of a phenolic condensation product or the like.

The ends of the glass tube are of frusto-conical configuration, so that a pocketfor the mercury is formed by the perimeter of the glass tube I3,

and the metal end of the switch as at M.

It will be noted that the cylindrical glass body |5 of the switch exceeds the dimensions of the extreme cross-section of the ends at I 6-16, so

that when the switch is tipped or tilted, to interrupt the mercury therein; a portion of the mercury remains in the pocket. The switch, being circular, it is evident that the switch can be placed in the circuit with ease and dispatch.

As is obvious, circuit connections are made by the contact making members l'l|'|, shown as a screw and nut assembly; however, any other suitable contacts may be used: for instance, a clamp to engage the periphery of the metal end, to

which one end of the circuit may be attached.

The tube may contain one or more rare gases in addition to the mercury therein, such as neon, argon, or both.

It will be understood that the above description 5 and accompanying drawing comprehends only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention, and that minor detail changes in construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims without sacri- 55 flcing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: V

1. A mercury switch comprising a cylindrical glass envelope having open frusto-conical ends, cylindrical shaped metal ends provided with centrally disposed longitudinally extending threaded contacts, sealed thereon and so positioned relative 5 to the open end of the envelope that there is pro-- vided a circumferential pocket at each end of the envelope, a body of mercury contained therein and contacting with the metal ends, and adapted to ride back and forth on the inner surface of the envelope when tilted from the horizontal position in making and breaking the electrical circuit, the pocket at each end of the envelope adapted to contain a portion of the body of the mercury when the mercury body is interrupted by the tilt- 1 ing and a filling of gas in the mercury switch.

2. A mercury switch comprising" a cylindrical glass envelope having confronting frusto-conical ends, cylindrical shaped insulated metal ends provided with longitudinally extending current connection contacts, sealed thereon and so positioned relative to the end of the envelope that there is provided a pocket at each end of the envelope, a body of mercury contained therein and contacting the metal ends, and adapted to ride back and 25 forth on the inner surface of the envelope when tilted from the horizontal position in making and breaking the electrical circuit, the pocket at each end of the envelope being adapted to contain a portion of the body of the mercury when the mercury body is interrupted by being tilted and a filling of gas in the mercury switch.

3. A mercury switch comprising a cylindrical glass envelope having open conical ends, the aforesaid ends facing in thesame direction, metal 35 insulated cylindrical caps with contacts, sealed on the envelope and being so positioned thereon that there is formed a mercury receiving pocket at each end, a body of mercury in the switch for making and breaking an'electrical circuit when 40 the switch is tilted in the proper direction thereby separating the mercury body into two parts, and-a filling of gas in the mercury switch.

4. In a mercury switch, in combination, a cylindrical glass envelope terminating in decreasing 45 tapered open ends, metallic caps of cylindrical configuration sealed onto the cylindrical portion of the envelope, centrally disposed longitudinally extending contacts on the caps, the caps being so mounted on the envelope that there is provided mercury receiving compartments at either ends of the switch to constantly contain at each end an amount of mercury, a body of mercury in the envelope adapted to break a circuit when the switch is tilted, and a filling of gas in the switch.

NORMAN F. GOTISCHALK. 

